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U.K. (1977-1980, 2011-2015), An English Progressive Rock Band Collective From Other Big-Name Bands


Pool Boy

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If you are a progressive rock lover, and if you have never listened to "In The Dead Of Night" by U.K., it will blow your mind.

It's funny - I was just listening to "In The Dead Of Night" for the very first time, and was thinking to myself that, more than any other band, U.K. reminded me of Yes, mainly because their keyboardist sounded so much like Rick Wakeman to me. Then, when I looked, I discovered that their drummer, Bill Bruford, played with Yes, and when the band was originally being formed, they tried to get Wakeman. It's something slightly more than their keyboards that remind me of Yes - it's also their rhythms and offbeats, and this could be a product of Bruford.

From the link in Wikipedia which details the history of their formation:

"Singer/bassist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford had worked together in King Crimson from 1972-4, when guitarist Robert Fripp disbanded the group.[1] In July 1976, Bruford assisted Wetton on demos for a proposed solo album by the latter (a couple of these demos were later released on Monkey Business). In September 1976, they worked on forming a band with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had previously worked with Bruford in Yes. The project was stopped by Wakeman's label. According to Bruford, "A&M Records were unwilling to let their 'star,' Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea failed."[2]"

Sometimes, it really is a small world. I had never heard of U.K. - thanks for the morning-coffee music lesson, Thomas. [Note to all: I really do read, and listen, to all of these posts. That's why it sometimes takes me this long to get to them - because I listen to each song at least once, and read up on things as well. I've been living in a musical cave for quite awhile now, and this has become one of my favorite forums because it's forcing me out of my comfort zone.]

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Bruford got around.....a lot. He went on tour with Genesis in 76/77. He did that after chitchatting with Collins about Brand X. Most of what he did was for his own fulfillment and fun, not always driven by commercial success.

It is funny, for some reason, in my brain I thought it was Dave Stewart, not the Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame, but rather this Dave Stewart, doing keyboards. Of course, it is Eddie Jobson. Dave Stewart entered Bruford's sphere around the same time that U.K. was around, and continued on as he appeared on several Bruford-related projects.

One of the things I love most in life is music - and exploring new music or new-to-me music. Or re-listening to music I have not listened to in a while. And especially hearing music live - my ears need plugs for the louder shows these days, but it is so different and real. :)

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